Ruth Ann Swartz, 86, a resident of Elmcroft of Altoona, formerly of Altoona, died Thursday, May 20, 2021, after a brief illness.
She was born in Altoona on April 28, 1935, the daughter of the late Walter F. and Daisy P. (Manspeaker) Sperl. On October 4, 1958, she married George Thomas Swartz in Altoona, and he preceded her in death on November 28, 2009.
Surviving are her two children: son, Mark S. Swartz and wife, Wendy, of Altoona, and daughter, Betsy E. Schindler and husband, Frank, of Baltimore, Md.; a grandson, Zachary T. Swartz of Altoona; a brother-in-law, Robert M. Decker of Binghamton, N.Y.; three nieces: Lorin Buck (Gene) of Reston, Va., Shari Peck (Brad) of Canandaigua, N.Y., and Carol Shields (Jeff) of Dallas, Pa.; numerous great-nieces and nephews; and her best friend, Mary Ann Oessenich of Altoona.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Nancy Decker; and a great-nephew, David Buck.
Ruth was a 1953 graduate of Altoona High School and the Altoona School of Commerce, where she earned a business degree. She worked as a secretary for Grace Fellowship Church, SKF, the Continuing Education Department at Penn State Altoona and for City Hall.
Mrs. Swartz was a member of Grace Fellowship Church in Juniata, where she taught Sunday School and was a chairperson of the Women’s Group. She also was a member of Wehnwood Bible Study Group and a past board member of the former Blair Christian Home. After the death of her husband, she was a volunteer with the Pastoral Counseling program at Altoona Hospital under the Leadership of Chaplain Tony Conrad and this was an important part of the latter years of her life.
Ruth and her husband, George, enjoyed traveling, especially following the Lady Lion’s High School Basketball team. She also enjoyed playing the organ and piano in church and in her leisure time.
A private family service will be held at Myers-Somers Funeral Home, Inc., 501 Sixth Avenue, Altoona.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mending Hearts Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 97, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 or to the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society, 1837 E. Pleasant Valley Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602.
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